Thanks to a car accident, I've suffered from a severe injury in my head, leaving me with one foot in my grave.

My husband, Andrew Rollins who's known for being an extremely talented doctor, serves as my primary surgeon. He conducts a surgery on me that lasts for 18 hours straight just so he can wrench my life from Death's cold fingers.

But the first thing I do after I wake up is tell him, "Let's get divorced, Andrew."

His eyes become bloodshot immediately. "Tess, I just saved your life, and yet the first thing you want is a divorce? Is it because I've been too busy with my work at the hospital that it cuts down on the time I get to spend with you?"

I frown deeply. "It's precisely due to the fact that you've saved me that I must file for a divorce. That's the only way I can help you uphold your title as an extremely talented doctor."

My older family members are quick to advise me. "Andrew is such an amazing husband. Not only is he a family man, but he also loves you with all his heart. Why must you insist on getting a divorce? Are you tired of living a great life with Andrew?"

Whoever has the gall to advise me will receive a rebuttal from me, no questions asked.

"If you think he's such a prized man, you can have him after the divorce."

Because of that, everyone is pissed at me. "Go ahead with the divorce, then! You'd better not regret your decision in the future!"

I mumble under my breath, "Oh, I regret it alright… I regret not divorcing him sooner."

The door to my hospital room slammed open, and my dad stormed in. "You're so heartless, Tessa Patton! Andrew hasn't slept for three days trying to save you, and this is the crap you say the moment you wake up?"

I lowered my gaze. "Didn't you always want a son? Why don't you just take him instead? A great son-in-law like him is wasted on me."

Dad was shaking with anger. "You little—"

Andrew Rollins steadied him, his voice gentle as he soothed him. "Walter, don't get worked up. Tess is probably still disoriented since she just regained consciousness not long ago."

I let out a cold laugh at his show of concern.

The attending physician walked in, frowning as he glanced at Andrew's reddened eyes. "Mrs. Rollins, you've just come back from the brink of death. Your health comes first. Married couples shouldn't hold grudges for that long."

I closed my eyes, refusing to talk to anyone. Only the monotonous beeping of the machines could be heard in the room.

Right then, a nursing student entered with a syringe. "Mrs. Rollins, it's time for your blood draw."

She hovered over the back of my hand, trying to find a vein. She missed on her first attempt. As a drop of blood welled up on my skin, she hastily pressed a cotton swab over it. "Sorry. I'm so sorry."

She moved to another spot, her hands shaking even harder this time. She pierced straight through a vein on her second try.

A sharp pain shot through me. Cold sweat broke out across my forehead.

Unable to take it anymore, I snapped in anger, "Get out."

The nursing student looked like she was about to cry.

"What's going on?"

A clear, pleasant female voice sounded from the doorway. Helen Gardner, a resident under Andrew's supervision, walked in.

Upon seeing the nursing student's flustered state, she frowned. "How can you mess up something this simple?"

She turned to Andrew with a concerned look. "Dr. Rollins, did you skip rest again? You look awful."

Andrew's tense expression relaxed a little at the sight of Helen, though he didn't seem to realize it. "It's fine. I'm used to it. What are you doing here?"

"I just got off work. I was worried, so I came to check on things."

As she spoke, she casually took the syringe from the nurse. "I'll do it."

I smacked her hand away before she could get close. "Keep your filthy hands off me," I said, my breathing uneven.

The head nurse, who had just walked in, snapped, "What's with that attitude? Do you have a problem with everyone in this hospital? Why are you taking your anger out on us? Someone as good as Dr. Rollins should seriously divorce you."

I scoffed. "I do want a divorce, and I'm getting it no matter what."

Grabbing my hand, Dad cried out, "Tess, what's gotten into you? Don't scare your old man like this!"

A hint of hurt appeared in Andrew's usually calm dark eyes as he held onto Dad's sleeve. "Walter, Tess just woke up. She needs to rest. Let's step outside for now."

I closed my eyes in exhaustion. Soon, they filed out of the room.

Once it was quiet again, I tried to sit up.

It felt like my body had fallen apart; I couldn't muster even a bit of strength. The lingering effects of the car accident were worse than I had expected.

After word got out that I wanted to divorce Andrew, I was labeled a heartless ingrate.

The nurse who came to change my dressing jabbed the needle into my vein with undisguised anger.

I winced in pain. "Ouch."

She rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, "Serves you right, ungrateful scum."

She spoke just loud enough for me to hear. I couldn't be bothered to respond, choosing to file a complaint instead.

Andrew's senior colleague, Cheryl Kane, dropped by for a visit.

Patting my shoulder, she said in a sincere, measured tone, "Tessa, you need to be grateful. Andrew gave up a chance to go abroad for an academic exchange because of your surgery. You shouldn't act rashly and break his heart."

After listening to what she had to say expressionlessly, I said, "That was his decision. What does it have to do with me?"

My response left Cheryl speechless. In the end, she could only shake her head and leave.

Dad came in with a bowl of chicken noodle soup. He set it down hard on the bedside table.

"Now everyone in the hospital knows that you are a jerk who's divorcing the man who saved your life! You've completely embarrassed me!" he exclaimed.

"What exactly is going on in your head, Tessa?" he couldn't help questioning in the end. "What did Andy even do to deserve this?

"You've been married for over a decade. Even when you refused to have kids, he agreed to it. And no matter what I said to persuade you guys, he kept saying your needs came first.

"And what do you do in return? Be honest with me. Is there someone else?"

With a playful tone, I said, "You're pretty smart, so why don't you take a guess, Dad?"

"Are you serious?" He let out an infuriated laugh. "Don't tell me there's not only another man but also a child."

A knock sounded right then.

Andrew and Helen walked in for their rounds, interrupting our argument.

He acted professionally, as if nothing had happened the day before.

"You're recovering well," Andrew said calmly after checking my pupils with a flashlight.

Standing behind him with a notebook, Helen quickly jotted something down. She then naturally took out a thermos from her bag before handing it to Andrew.

"Dr. Rollins, you pulled an all-nighter reviewing materials again, didn't you? I can see the dark circles under your eyes. Have some warm water for your throat."

"I'm fine."

Andrew unscrewed the thermos and took a sip.

I scoffed loudly, remarking sarcastically, "Yeah, Dr. Rollins sure has it rough. Having to save his 'ungrateful' wife while also needing to supervise such a 'thoughtful and attentive' resident must be exhausting."

Dad stared at me in shock.

Helen's expression darkened. She said righteously, "Mrs. Rollins, please be more respectful when you speak! Dr. Rollins hasn't slept because of your condition, and instead of being grateful, you're making sarcastic remarks? Do you not have a heart?"

Andrew's cold voice rang out, his eyes carrying a hint of warning. "Helen."

Helen pursed her lips, clearly dissatisfied.

Andrew bent down to tuck me in with an exhausted and helpless look on his face, as if he were dealing with a difficult patient.

"Get some rest, Tessa. Try not to overthink things. We can have a proper talk after you're discharged."

I shoved him away before pulling out the divorce papers from the drawer. "There's nothing to talk about. Just sign these once you've read them."

He staggered slightly, prompting Helen to support him. She then snatched the divorce papers. "What? You want Dr. Rollins to leave with nothing? Why should he?"

Raising my chin slightly, I shot back, "And who are you to question me about this?"

Helen choked on her words for a moment, then spoke with a hint of wounded indignation, "Dr. Rollins, don't waste your breath arguing with trash like this. Let's go."

"You two—" Dad was about to say something when a loud commotion cut him off.

A middle-aged man stormed in, pointing an accusatory finger at me as he shouted, "So you're that ingrate Tessa? Dr. Rollins pushed back my daughter's surgery to save your life, and yet you have the nerve to bring up divorce? You're a monster!"

The more he yelled, the more worked up he got. Then, in a fit of rage, he grabbed the bedpan from under my bed and splashed its contents all over me.

The pungent, nauseating smell hit me instantly. I froze on the spot.

Andrew dashed into the bathroom, grabbed a towel, and hurried back to wipe me with it.

Ignoring his attempt to help, I snatched the towel. I wipe my face and hair with it before snapping, "Damn it. The divorce needs to happen immediately."

Andrew was stunned. "Tess, what's gotten into you? Can you stop throwing around the word 'divorce'? What exactly have I done wrong? Just tell me, and I'll fix it."

I firmly said, "Yeah, right. Just sign the divorce papers already, you bastard."

He looked completely taken aback, probably because he wasn't used to hearing me swear.

In less than ten minutes, Andrew's entire extended family showed up, crowding the room.

"Tessa, what's wrong with you? Andrew is such a good man. Why would you want a divorce?" Shirley Leblanc, Andrew's uncle's wife, demanded aggressively.

His aunt, Sarah Rollins, chimed in, "Yeah. Look at the state you're in. If it weren't for Andrew, you'd be dead already!"

"He even gave up his chance to train abroad for you. Do you not have a conscience?" his other aunt joined in.

My mother-in-law, Juliana Smith, sat by the bed, wailing dramatically. "Tessa, are you trying to drive me to my death? How could you treat Andy like this? He's been nothing but good to you, and yet you…"

I rubbed my throbbing temples, unwilling to deal with them anymore. "This is between Andrew and me. It has nothing to do with any of you."

Shirley shot up to her feet. "How could it not? What will happen to our reputation if you divorce him? Andrew is the pride of our family!"

"She's right. If you dare divorce him, we'll go make a scene at your workplace every day!" Sarah threatened.

The constant stream of criticism made my head ache like crazy.

"Get lost already," I growled.

The crowd then swarmed me, grabbing and hitting me. I couldn't fight them off alone. The IV stand and everything on the table crashed to the floor.

The nurses eventually came and ushered them out after clearly having watched long enough.

At midnight, I had just dozed off when a sharp pain woke me with a start. I cried out, feeling like my abdomen was about to explode.

When I forced my eyes open, I saw Andrew's sister standing by my bed, a wooden stick in her hand.

I asked weakly, "What are you doing?"

She sneered. "You bitch, how dare you leave my brother? I'll kill you! Since you don't know what's good for you, I'll make sure you do!"

Before she finished speaking, she hit me with the stick again on the head.

Everything went black, and I lost consciousness.